Corkboards are very versatile. They are used everywhere from school lockers to dorm rooms, in children's bedrooms and even in upscale offices. Plain corkboard, however, is rather boring in appearance. You can cover the cork when you pin up the items onto the board, but go a step further if you really want your corkboard to have presence. Dress up your corkboard by decorating it before you use it.

Fabric

Fabric is a quick and easy way to dress up any corkboard. It comes in a wide variety of patterns, including seasonal looks. Fabric allows you to change your corkboard to match the decor of the room or to celebrate a holiday. Simply cut the fabric to match the size of the cork, then staple it to the board. Stretch it so that it is fairly tight before you staple it. Otherwise, it may bunch up and create wrinkles.

Contact paper

Contact paper is paper that has an adhesive on one side. Like fabric, it comes in a wide array of patterns and colors. Unlike fabric, however, the adhesive means that you will not be able to remove it if you tire of the design. You can, however, put a new layer of contact paper over the old layer, until the layers get too thick for the push pins to penetrate them. Contact paper is very easy to use. Simply cut the paper to match the measurements of the corkboard. Remove the adhesive backing, and press the paper over the cork. Smooth it out to remove any air bubbles.

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Paint

Spray painting corkboard is perhaps the easiest way of all to decorate it. Protect the ground with newspaper, then use a can of spray paint to cover the entire board. This is best done outside. Cover the frame with paper and tape if you don't want the frame to be painted. Paint it one solid color, or go crazy with lots of different colors for a bright, modern look. Alternately, make it classy by painting a monogram in the center using stencils.

Ribbon

Using ribbon to decorate your corkboard can be combined with any of the above decorating techniques. Stretch ribbon across the board in a zig-zag pattern, securing it with a staple each time it reaches the border. In this way, instead of pinning items to the board, you can slip the items under the ribbon. This sweet look is especially attractive in a young girl or baby's room.